(Rotten Roots) Round Table

[Liam Gelt]

There's a low grunt outside the door and Liam ducks into the room. He's dressed in casual clothes; t-shirt and slacks with sturdy shoes. But there's a bulge around the Ogre's waist that looks like it might conceal a brace of some kind. "Hey guys, sorry I'm late." He steps in with a smile perhaps a bit too broad and shiny for someone not recovering from past wounds. "Sera...Rhodes...Circe. I'm glad you're here!" Surely with their help this Rust could be put to rest. Vincent is new though, and significantly smaller than the last canid Lost he's met. "Oh? Hello there, name's Liam." ​He offers a friendly handshake, curious of the Lost's tattooed form and...lack of discernible Mantle. A Courtless?

Liam looks over to Anatole, his smile softening into a contemplative grimace. "How much have you told them about what happened?" He doesn't mention Gerrit, but the subtext shimmers in his eyes like they're on the verge of tears.

[Saber Sloth]

well than I'll leave that to Vincent Black , are you hiding that you're wearing kevlar?

[Vincent Black]

Vincent takes a swig, "All has been good Sera, just need a bit of a caffeine boost." he says to her as he holds up his energy drink. "Well maybe you can catch me up a bit on what is going on once everyone is here" he says to Circe with a wink and slight grin.

Upon seeing Anatole checking him out, "The name is Vincent Black, and you would be." Vincent states with his hand out for a handshake.

Nope, it is very apparent as the vest is over his T-Shirt. Think how Dog the Bounty Hunter wears his.

Vincent then notices another new face, he approaches @Liam, "Name is Vincent Black nice to meet you."

Equipment

Kevlar Vest
Burner Phone
Digital Camera
Handcuffs

[Anatole]

Anatole leans across and clasps Vincent hand. He gives the Courtless Lost a form nod, his eyes lingering on the Kevlar.

"Call me Anatole. Welcome."

He turns to @Liam as the giant Vernal Courtier joins the group.

"Nothing yet."

Then to the group.

"Eh. We have a major problem with the big old Trod in the heart of the city. It is - or has, really - become infested - or infected! Still no certainty there either - by a... A 'Rust'. This stuff covers pretty much everything in the Thorns. A thick layer of this... stuff... covers everything and slips off at the merest touch or agitation. It is absorbed by the skin and is highly dangerous - we very nearly lost Gerritt to it and I don't know if he will recover... I believe he was handed over to the Emerald for healing but I haven't seen him in a long while. So I'm not sure if he is still in the city or not..."

He looked back to Liam as he spoke.

"Liam carried him out of the Hedge the last time I saw him. Anyway, I recommend gloves and full clothing if you go back down that Trod again. There have been rumours that there was a dead Lost down that trod just before the infestation began - a Metalflesh or so the rumours say. I'm told he was carrying an inflected Goblin Fruit and it looks like things have escalated dramatically. Liam might know more..."

"Last time we ventured down that Trod we found the path infested. Gerritt was with us and got infected, so we had no choice but to withdraw. If the infestation... or infection... continues - ah we may loose the Trod. Or worse it might infest the Gate."

He turned swiftly to his own bag and slipped out some sheafs of paper. Handwritten research notes.

"No I've spent some time looking into this problem and we have already broached the subject with some here - namely Queen Seraphina who has suggested a trip to Ambrosial Delights might be in order. The hobs might have some secret knowledge of this malady that we can ... acquire. I also have my own research findings here, which I will get onto in a moment..."

He eyed the group, especially the Sovereigns and in particular Rhodes The Dread Lord had an interest in research and lore, one never knew if the Autumn Sovereign might have some further insight.

@Gerritt Aeolus has returned but Anatole doesn't know that yet. He has been under the impression that Gerrit is being treated for his injury / infection - just an FYI

[Circe]

Circe shrugs at Vincent's flirting request. Was it flirting? She kept getting the wrong orientation when she tried. Circe listens and interrupts Anatole when Gerrit's condition is revealed, cussing out "Beh merda." recalls the metal flesh mentioned. "That corpse I bought a barbeque jamboree's stock for? Those bird hobs we ready ta eat it, so maybe they're immune?"


The notion of the infection got her working on the maps. It wasn't really accurate for the Hedge because it was, well, the Hedge. You could enter a Gate on the 30th floor of a skyscraper, climb a literal mountain to another Gate, and find yourself in the same buildings B3 basement. But she could map the gates. Which is what she was doing. Infestations spreading out had happened before and been dealt with.


As for Ambrosial Delights, Circe had input on that and on an alternative solution too. "Well, I have some input. Market. Ya gotta think medieval barter. Exotic spices, fruit, meat, or booze from off the continent would be of value. That is the easy ta carry stuff. Alternative," she points at herself, "Guns and armor, always valuable. They'd be beholden ta us fer ammo ta a degree, but we'd be giving 'em guns." Circe stops the typing on her laptop to hold up her hands in defense, "I have ONLY considered that ta bribe large mercenary hob companies ta NOT take contracts against our Freehold."


Then there was her alternative worst solution to it. "The metal flesh's ashes are buried in the Underland tunnels. I inspected the tunnels during that flooding," she continues, "I saw no sign of this infection in the dirt there, no new colors." Circe inhales and sighs, "Meaning either the infection is Hedge only, or the corpse was cleansed. By the incinerator." Circe opens another window to see about purchasing certain items in Nevada. Viable, if expensive and needing restoration for not having too much paperwork. Eh, contracts would help with that: "Worst idea, burn it out. I'd recommend gas masks in case it's like burning poison ivy. Molotovs would be cheapest. Or we drive out of state and buy a flamethrower. They're legal outside Cali."

[Rhodes]

Rhodes takes his black coffee and sit next to Sera. Her leading question inevitably draw the eyes to his fellow Autumn. It was good to know that the Dwarf was deep in the investigation.

He listens intently to the initial brief. It certainly sounded like an infection, though such a thing could be a weapon poised by Ann. Damn her and her prowess. Perhaps I could use this to whip something of my own up against her... There is an approving smile as he is handed research notes. They had not worked together but here was proof positive that Anatole's research process was as thorough as his own. He nods, leaving through the sheets. "Well now, we can't have that, can we?" he adds thoughtfully to the possibility of loosing the gate, his eyes still scouring the research.

1 success

Date	Action	Roll	Result
2023-01-30 07:47:06	Rhodes rolls 8 to Recall "Rust" or Hedge infection: Int3 + Occ 4 + Autumn Spec (10 Again)	3, 9, 3, 3, 3, 1, 2, 5	1 success

Gerrit's infection was a unfortunate, certainly, but it was a small sacrifice in terms of the gaining of the new lore. Circe's contributions were not technically incorrect, but leaped to an edge he didn't want. "No gunrunning. It only complicates things when we have to consider hobs with modern technology," the Director added, without looking up. "But thing esoteric barter also - original works, memories, emotions. Hobs trade in more than the mundane. Also fire may not be the answer. Magical problems require magical solutions. Fire coulld just have the infection spread faster.... possibly."

Finally, Rhodes looked up from his notes. "This is fine work," he offers to Anatole. "I don't suppose you happen to have a sample of this Rust?" It was as apt a name as any from the descriptions. "I would need a physical specimen to attempt to offer any more magical insight than what Anatole has already provided," he gestures with the notes. "The rotting fruit, the Seeming of the corpse.... I've put together theories on less evidence. I haven't encountered something like this Rust before, but magical infections do happen. I just want to know if this is an accident of circumstance... or a planned attack. Cutting off one of the main Hedge Gates would be.... like bombing a highway. I wouldn't put it passed Ann to forge a magical infection that ate one of her minions to get started."

After all... it's what I would do if I could find a suitable fool to carry it.

He looked to Circe. "You're sure this was the same corpse? The one in the infection and the one you incinerated?"

[Seraphina]

The smile was returned, “Hey Liam.” This was growing to be quite the party.

A caffeine boost was always a good thing in her mind, and she just nods to Vincent.

Sounded like Anatole was going to lead this off, so she gives him her full attention. Notes scribbled down as she listened.

Her lips pressed together, losing the Trod wouldn’t be acceptable. At the mention of the Market, “I had suggested it simply as a way to maybe gather more information.” After all, the Hobs spent more time in the Hedge then they did.

She winces, “I think fire might be a bit much at this point. The idea is a solid one, but we simply don’t know enough about it at this point. Who’s to say it doesn’t become airborne if burned?” a stretch, probably, but one worth considering.

To Rhodes, “I don’t think there is a physical specimen yet, at least, not that I’ve been told. But that was a main point for me, getting a specimen to study. Perhaps some sort of box, glass or, like Anatole had suggested before, enchanted, to keep it contained while it’s studied. We can’t actually get rid of it until we know what we’re dealing with. I can offer the Spring Hollow as a place to study it, unless you wished to study it at the Autumn Hollow. Either way, we need to get eyes on it.”

[Anatole]

@Rhodes will find that Anatole has struggled to draw much from the library. He has, however tracked down tantalising hints and suggestions link the dead Lost's seeming and aspects of their Entitlement interacting in obscure ways. He has circled "Rust like a skin or layer", "Rite", "Goblin Contracts / Magic" and "Sacrifice?" in his notes.

The burned dwarf is studying Circe as the Crimson Soverign outlines her thoughts. He grunts and knuckles his moustaches.

"Well that kills my idea that it was that Metal Flesh who was the source of the contagion, like he was a sacrifice or something and its spreading out from him. Uncertain on the nuclear option... Circe, that is the first step on the path of a Bridge Burner. Best not go anywhere near there unless we have no other choice...."

He turns to Rhodes and Seraphina.

"That is correct. I had taken some sample bags with me on our last expedition - but they were for the fruit, not the rust as such. And given how things went down... there were other concerns. Yes."

"Now it may well be we can collect samples. The 'Rust' breaks off easily enough but it is like it wants to do that. If it gets on any exposed skin it will simply melt into you and both Liam and I saw how badly Gerritt - an Ogre! - was affected by only brushing a small crumb of the stuff onto his person. But a box or container... thickly warded or strongly built... yes that might work."

"It could still be a rite of some kind but if it is, the source is not the Metal Flesh although i admit it looks that way. Perhaps we should check on the body just in case."

He gestured, somewhat feebly, with his hands.

Excerpted from Anatole's research Glimpse

Long hours, dim light, dwindling sources means that Anatole doesn't find the mystical tome with All The Answers, but he does find a few things that might connect.

The first thing he finds is a mention of the Elemental kith Metalflesh, which rings a bell. Liam mentioned a dead Metalflesh, wrapped in vines where the rust was first found.

Looking through the Dread Lord's inclusions to the Autumn Archive Anatole does find something mentioning the Hedge Wardens with their ideas of the Promise of the Thorns, and the ones known to Sacramento, are a large Motley that spend the year walking the Hedge from Redding to San Francisco and how when they're Entitled their Mien's take on the appearance of Iron.

With the Mien in mind, Anatole flips through a book of children's stories, an echoing theme among them. Turning something, into something else. Something into gold usually like straw or lead, but as always, a price, consequences, and if they can't pay that help turns to hurt.[/ctl]

[Vincent Black]

Vincent just sits back and listens to those who have encountered the rust before him. He listened intently, trying to pick up on whatever hints he may pick up from the descriptions.

@Saber Sloth please let me know if I could roll anything that might give me some information from my own personal knowledge. Thanks.

[Circe]

Circe holds up her hands in defense, "Whoa whoa whoa. I said I wouldn't sell guns, save fer that one exception. The most modern thing I'd consider giving 'em is bulk football pads." She holds up her left hand as a fist and starts raising fingers as she counts details, "Cheap, we know weak spots, and not bullet proof."


Circe's mantle flares up when Ann's name is mentioned. Yes she still is hate filled and Wrathful about the Fetch Maker. As for when Rhodes rejects fire, Circe gives him a thumbs up as she looks to Anatole who'd also rejected it, "Totes true Anatole. Their shit ideas are the worst solution, hence me calling it the worst solution."


"Nope!" Was her quick reply to Rhodes on the corpse connection, "I was asking if it was the same metal flesh." Circe shrugs with her palms up, "Guess I was unclear. There was a metal flesh corpse we cremated, and had spoilt fruit next ta it. Was there another metal flesh? If not, we can check the ashes," she smirks, "We'll need a shovel."


As for how to contain a sample, she'd an idea for that. "Wrought iron box maybe? Lead? Organ cooler? I know how ta forge, could get some iron ore and just bang out something and maybe iron blocks the infection. Collection," she looks up online and frowns. Types more and makes a face. "Okay, so really good hazmat is out, legal and cost." She shakes her head with eyes wide at the zeroes. "Sorry slow, filtering. Ha! Filter. The septic level suits is only a hundred but there are a LOT of Halloween hazmat costumes. Oomph, the respirators are pricey too, milsurp masks might be cheaper. And ugh," she pulls back as she looks at something related to sewage cleaning. Environment example? No, something uglier to the Fairest, "Il cazzo mi fa male agli occhi. Safety gloves, thick and chem resist but ugly. Like six-ha! Overstock cheap if gotten in bulk."


Having a chance to ditch the gloves and not be infected would be worth how unfashionably bright and ugly orange most of these coated gloves were. At least to Circe.

Stats & Equipment

Keys for the place. Shoulder holster Colt 45 with 3 clips, 3 Dream-a-Drupes flasks, hedgespun multitool, hedgespun glasses, wrist watch, smart phone, lighter, wallet, bubblegum, black business suit, thin bulletproof vest, black athletic shoes. encrypted high end laptop.